The Flxible 870 certainly is a bus viewed with mixed emotions in the NYC metro area (if the 870 had had a better record, there probably would have been a lot more Metros in the metro area). Here is a list of who owned 870's back in the '80's:

The Flxible 870 certainly is a bus viewed with mixed emotions in the NYC metro area (if the 870 had had a better record, there probably would have been a lot more Metros in the metro area). Here is a list of who owned 870's back in the '80's:

Put me down one of those who enjoed those buses as I still enjoy the Flxible Metro today. Just a couple of corrections. The OA PA buses went up to number PA175. The Ave B-E Bway (13) buses went up to #565.

I always liked the looks of the 870's when they ran in NYC.
(I'm partial to transit buses with slanted driver's side windshields, from GM Old Looks right up to Orion VII's; Gillig Phantoms also are included.)
I like the Metros that NJT still runs. I usually ride the NE Corridor from Metropark to NY Penn Sta., and you can see Metros running on the #62 from Newark to Perth Amboy (which includes a stop at Metropark's small curbside "bus terminal", normally frequented by NJT Nova RTS's.)

As for Av. B/E B'way having Grumman 870s, any pics of such a bus in that scheme?

Ave B - E Bway was slated to get 13 Grumman 870, but they went out of buses before the buses arrived. Those buses originally intended for Ave B - E Bway arrived in NYCTA colors (with the brown interior like the privates) and were assinged to Staten Island express service. They were numbered 553-565.

Given the simplified paint scheme that the other PBL Grummans received, the Ave. B buses likely would have had a simple red stripe with 'AVENUE B & E. BROADWAY TRANSIT Co. - OPERATOR' lettering in the same font as its sister buses at the other privates.

(I'm partial to transit buses with slanted driver's side windshields, from GM Old Looks right up to Orion VII's; Gillig Phantoms also are included.)

Me too, Bob! Don't forget the PCC's!

I thought Phoenix had some Flxible Metro's back in the 90's but would have to check some of my old photos to be sure. I didn't think much of them after having to give up GM & Flx New Looks so didn't store that info in the old memory banks. But they seem good compared to most of what's being made now.

Given the simplified paint scheme that the other PBL Grummans received, the Ave. B buses likely would have had a simple red stripe with 'AVENUE B & E. BROADWAY TRANSIT Co. - OPERATOR' lettering in the same font as its sister buses at the other privates.

Agreed. However, I wonder if they would've done something a bit different since Triboro Coach buses had the red stripe on white.

The Flxible 870 certainly is a bus viewed with mixed emotions in the NYC metro area (if the 870 had had a better record, there probably would have been a lot more Metros in the metro area). Here is a list of who owned 870's back in the '80's:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but they were called Grumman 870s, it wasn't until a few years later that they used the Flxible name on the buses. I forgot the name of the company the name of the company that Grumman sold it to... I'll get more info.

The bus building division of Grumman was called Grumman-Flxible. The bus was known as the Model 870 Flxible until 1982, when it was renamed the Grumman Metro. The name reverted to Flxible when the division was sold to General Automotive in 1983.

thanx for the info, I got a question... since Flxible is out of business, could someone bring back the Flxible name by building and selling the buses using the Flxible name and design? cause I have ideas, I just don't know if they will work.

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